The Dallas Cowboys spent the offseason making some questionable moves (losing DeMarco Murray) and some smart moves (striking a deal with Dez Bryant ). Still, Jerry Jones and company appear ready for the 2015 NFL regular season, the opener against the New York Giants on Sunday Night Football , and a successful season. Unfortunately, some NFL experts don’t feel it will be too successful and think the Cowboys will miss the playoffs.
Tom Pelissero of USA Today Sports states in his bold predictions that the Cowboys will miss the playoffs. Simple enough, he just doesn’t see them getting in this year.
It’s believed that the loss of DeMarco Murray is much bigger than anyone may realize, and that could be very true. Murray wasn’t just the leading rusher for the Cowboys in 2014, but he was the league-leader last year.
Now, the Cowboys are going to be dealing with a running back by committee approach that uses Joseph Randle, Darren McFadden, Lance Dunbar, and newly acquired Christine Michael . None seem like franchise backs at this time, and some even wonder if combined they will even be able to equal Murray’s numbers from 2014.
Orlando Scandrick being gone for the season is another huge loss, and one that the Cowboys have had very little time to prepare for. They didn’t just lose a key part of their defense, but one of the best players in the game at his position.
Speaking of defense, HNGN points out that the big personality of Greg Hardy could rub some people the wrong way in the Cowboys’ way of life. Hardy has accepted his four-game suspension, but it’s going to be interesting to see how he meshes upon his return.
The Dallas Cowboys do have some great players and brought back some key starters and back-ups, but there are some problems in different areas. The biggest is at running back, and it’s going to hurt an offense that enjoyed being well-balanced last year.
In 2015, the Cowboys will go as far as Tony Romo takes them and that means him not making mistakes and staying healthy. He has had great numbers the last four years, but the Cowboys have only made the playoffs one time.
If the Dallas Cowboys are going to get to the playoffs, it will have to be on the strength of their passing game and their defense. The running game is unreliable right now, and lack of success from it may result in the predictions of some NFL experts coming true.
[Image via Getty Images – Mike McGinnis]
